Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Boylan welcomes ‘positive trend’ showing more MOT tests available
Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Transport Cathal Boylan MLA welcomes new Department for Infrastructure data showing more MOT test availability in January than any January in the past decade. He credits Minister Kimmins and cites recruitment and Sunday and bank holiday testing to further cut waiting…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure January MOT test availability data Original release: Boylan welcomes ‘positive trend’ showing more MOT tests available (opens in a new tab)
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Gabhann Reilly comhghairdeas le Kneecap
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly congratulates the rap group Kneecap on their success in film, after their IFTA and BAFTA wins, and praises their work promoting the Irish language on the global stage. She also links their success to awareness of political and social causes, including Palestine.
Disability and equality Original release: Gabhann Reilly comhghairdeas le Kneecap (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP has a problem with common sense – Brooks
East Belfast DUP MLA David Brooks says the SDLP's reaction to DUP Leader Gavin Robinson's comments on diversity quotas shows it puts ideology ahead of common sense, and accuses the party of intolerance towards differing views.
Disability and equality Issue: DUP Leader Gavin Robinson comments on woke diversity quotas Original release: SDLP has a problem with common sense – Brooks (opens in a new tab)
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Congratulations to Andy Allen at the Invictus Games
UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt MLA congratulates Andy Allen, his colleague, on winning four medals at the Invictus Games in Whistler, and says he has asked the Speaker to host a welcome home event for him.
Other Disability and equality Issue: Andy Allen Invictus Games medals in Whistler Original release: Congratulations to Andy Allen at the Invictus Games (opens in a new tab)
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Crawford condemns increasing number of assaults on teachers and teaching staff
UUP education spokesperson Colin Crawford MLA condemns a rise in reported attacks on teachers and school staff, citing Department of Education figures rising from 376 in 2022 to 698 in 2024. He calls for a review of school safety policies, stronger reporting and support, and better resources for…
Education Issue: Department of Education figures on assaults against school staff 2022-2024 Original release: Crawford condemns increasing number of assaults on teachers and teaching staff (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath calls for fairer distribution of arts funding
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath calls for a fairer distribution of arts funding across the North, after figures showed Belfast City Council received 71.06% of 2023/24 allocations. He welcomes Communities Minister Gordon Lyons's acceptance that the situation must be addressed.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast City Council share of 2023/24 arts funding figures Original release: McGrath calls for fairer distribution of arts funding (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Representative police service not about ‘woke quotas’
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says a representative police service is not about 'woke quotas', responding to DUP Leader Gavin Robinson's email to members. He says the PSNI falls far short of reflecting the community and calls for more recruitment from nationalist backgrounds, women and minority groups…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: DUP Leader Gavin Robinson comments on woke diversity quotas Original release: Durkan: Representative police service not about ‘woke quotas’ (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood calls for support for Foyle Street businesses
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood calls on Ministers for direct financial support for Foyle Street traders in Derry, whose footfall has fallen sharply during water and sewage works, and says he has written to the Communities Minister seeking equal treatment with a £200,000 scheme for Sandy Row businesses in…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Foyle Street traders support request after Sandy Row revitalisation scheme Original release: Eastwood calls for support for Foyle Street businesses (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: First Ministers cannot bluster into Trump photo ops without being challenged
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the deputy First Minister offered only bluster in the Assembly when asked whether Donald Trump's administration could change Executive plans for the St Patrick's Day Washington trip. He calls for the public to be told the Executive's approach…
International affairs Issue: SDLP boycott of White House St Patrick's Day reception Original release: O’Toole: First Ministers cannot bluster into Trump photo ops without being challenged (opens in a new tab)
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Sectarian bigots will not succeed in dividing the Randalstown community – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney condemns sectarian signs erected late on a Friday night in Neillsbrook, Randalstown, calling them a deliberate attack on local sports clubs' inclusion work and urging zero tolerance of sectarianism.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Sectarian signs erected in Neillsbrook, Randalstown Original release: Sectarian bigots will not succeed in dividing the Randalstown community – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Refusal to accept need for change in bonfire management policy is extremely disappointing – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, says he is extremely disappointed that councillors on Antrim and Newtownabbey's Community Development Committee rejected proposed tougher rules on bonfires, including zero tolerance for hate-crime displays and sanctions for breaches.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Antrim and Newtownabbey bonfire management policy changes rejected by committee Original release: Refusal to accept need for change in bonfire management policy is extremely disappointing – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - Government must stand up for SAS
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the party will write to the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Secretary seeking facts on how men arrested in the Republic in 1992 after the Clonoe incident were handled, including whether they were covered by the on-the-run scheme.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Clonoe SAS soldiers case and 1992 Republic of Ireland arrests Original release: Robinson - Government must stand up for SAS (opens in a new tab)
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‘Welcome news wastewater funding will unlock new west Belfast developments’ – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes £19.5 million in additional funding for NI Water, with £7 million to progress 1,200 homes and five commercial units in the upper Falls, and urges continued expansion of housing and wastewater capacity.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister's Assembly statement on water and wastewater infrastructure Original release: ‘Welcome news wastewater funding will unlock new west Belfast developments’ – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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‘Truth Recovery Independent Panel an opportunity for voices of those affected by institutions to be heard’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges people with experience of former Mother and Baby homes, Magdalene laundries or workhouses in the north before 1995, along with relatives and former staff, to contact the new Truth Recovery Independent Panel. The panel accepts testimonies until 1 May 2025.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Truth Recovery Independent Panel opens for testimonies Original release: ‘Truth Recovery Independent Panel an opportunity for voices of those affected by institutions to be heard’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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‘South Belfast arson absolutely disgraceful’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns an overnight-to-Thursday fire attack that damaged three workers' cars at a garage in south Belfast, and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Justice and policing Issue: South Belfast garage vehicle arson attack Original release: ‘South Belfast arson absolutely disgraceful’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Clarke Condemns Anti-PSNI Posters in South Belfast
DUP MLA Trevor Clarke condemns anti-PSNI posters erected in South Belfast, calling them menacing and intimidatory, and urges nationalist and republican leaders to publicly denounce the act. He says he is glad the posters have been removed.
Justice and policing Issue: Anti-PSNI posters erected in South Belfast Original release: Clarke Condemns Anti-PSNI Posters in South Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Magical Thinking in Whitehall and Brussels
TUV leader Jim Allister, writing in the News Letter, argues that the Official Control Amendment Regulations remove the justification for the Irish Sea border by allowing checks away from border control posts, and calls on the Government to explain why it accepts this arrangement.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Official Control Amendment Regulations and Irish Sea Border checks Original release: Magical Thinking in Whitehall and Brussels (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy and McGettigan welcome progress on equivalence in university admissions processes
Sinn Féin's Pádraig Delargy MLA and Donna McGettigan TD welcome Universities Ireland's confirmation that CAO admissions will be amended so A-Level students get 25 bonus points for Maths and a recognised fourth AS-level for 2025/26.
Education Issue: CAO admissions amendment for A-Level students from 2025/26 Original release: Delargy and McGettigan welcome progress on equivalence in university admissions processes (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance position on health funding becoming increasingly confused – Chambers
UUP MLA Alan Chambers accuses the Alliance Party of disregarding pressures on patients and health workers, saying Alliance MLA Nuala McCallister gave incorrect figures at a Health Committee session on the January Monitoring Round allocation to health.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: January Monitoring Round health funding allocation Health Committee exchange Original release: Alliance position on health funding becoming increasingly confused – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of access to respite care absolutely unacceptable, says Mathison.
Alliance Strangford MLA Nick Mathison says it is unacceptable that only 13 of 85 eligible people in the South Eastern Trust receive residential respite, and presses the Health Minister for clarity on how a £13 million short-break investment is being spent and how many young people await a social…
Health Disability and equality Issue: South Eastern Trust residential short breaks access figures Original release: Lack of access to respite care absolutely unacceptable, says Mathison. (opens in a new tab)